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Dublin: 13 °C Monday 20 May, 2013

Gilmore calls for end to Israeli blockade of Gaza

The Tánaiste and Foreign Minister is due to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later today.

Image: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

TÁNAISTE AND MINISTER for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has called for an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Gilmore, who is on a four day tour of Israel and Palestine, said that the current restrictions on what can enter Gaza is “utterly unjust” and “counterproductive”.

“It is dispiriting to see how little real change there has been in Gaza since the end of the Israeli military operation against Gaza three years ago,” said the Tánaiste.

“What I have seen today has reinforced my belief that it is utterly unjust as well as counterproductive to subject Gaza to these restrictions, to choke off its economy, and to reduce its people to a state of complete dependency”.

He said that he will raise the situation in Gaza with Israeli government representatives with whom he is due to meet tomorrow.

Gilmore is on the third day of his trip to Israel and Palestine today.

He is due to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al Malaki this afternoon to discuss the stalled Middle East peace process.

Tomorrow he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he begins the official Israeli leg of his visit.

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Comments (46 Comments)

  • I’m quiet sure the Israeli representatives will listen intentively..making notes as the quietly doodle on the page before them as this guy issues his sound bites and platitudes. Then when they’ve given him his 5 minutes and politely lead him from the room..they’ll toss the doodles away and poor ole Pink But Perfect will be instantaniously forgotten.

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  • Well what else is he gonna say FFS… This shite wrecks my head. It’s not newsworthy. It’s his job to say these things, so your new found love of him is flawed to say the least, he is just another money hungry pseudo lefty.

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  • Not going to make himself popular with Shatter!

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  • Did he also call on Hamas to stop their persecution of Women, gays, & any political opposition? Not to mention indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilians?

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  • As if they’ll pay any heed to what he says?!

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  • Hmmmm,so much for Ireland being a neutral country…..this is obviously not the case anymore when our leaders can make a political announcement of such strength without meeting both sides first. Also,does neutral not mean that we do not have a political opinion on waring areas and our main objective is the safe guarding of both sides and their civilians????? Obviously Ireland is forgetting what it is supposed to stand for,sad really. dont you think? I hope Mr.Gilmore visits Sderot on his trip to Israel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • B7584 28/01/12 #

    Shut up Gilmore. If only you had such interest in US, the citizens of Ireland.

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  • Spot on, Dave O’Shea.

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  • All I want to know is why he had to spend taxpayers money travelling there to come up with these findings? They are nothing new! It he going to create a few hundred Irish jobs out of this trip?

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  • hey Mr Gilmore me thinks it is this country you should focus on . erm. who paid for your trip and hotel stay and your pocket money for drinks in the bars while you sort the arms over there.

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  • Once the Celtic Tiger collapsed and the world learned that the Irish economic miracle was built on clouds, Ireland’s credibility internationally evaporated. If Gilmore has the capacity to distinguish between folly and wisdom, he would ask the Israelis for advice on how to create a real technology economy. Small fact, but the Vatican’s perimeter video surveillance security, all 30km, is provided by an Israeli company.

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  • I hate this man less now for saying that.

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    • Don’t you know he’ll swing to the Israeli side when he visits them. Gilmore and labour showed their complete lack of morals on student fees after they disgustingly signed rejecting any increases and changed their mind the minute they were in government. Not only 2 faced but cowards to boot. And I’m not a student btw

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    • Jay, unfortunately always necessary to point out you’ve nothing to gain in this ever increasingly divisive Ireland.

      Daniel, always good to hate less. I’ll try it when we get rid of this government. :(

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    • A wiser man would have heard the case for the other side before making public pronouncements.

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  • franco 28/01/12 #

    gilmore when will you realise you are possibly one of the most hated men in ireland ,you are being paid to look after the interests of this country, nobody is interested in what you have to say about gaza and israel you are not a statesman stop wasting money that we dont have trying to save the world and try and keep some of the promises labour and fine gael made ,

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  • Bullshit. Coming from the man who supported an embargo on Iranian oil. Speaking out of both sides of his shitty gob. Remind you of anyone else on this septic isle?

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  • Gilmore would want to get out a dictionary and look up what the term “neutral” means. Last time I checked we’re supposed to not get involved in other peoples problems. Look after your own patch for once Gilmore.

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  • Although I do respect him for making these comments, I will hold my applause until I hear what he has to say to the other side. I have a feeling he is trying to play the nice guy and try to get a long with both sides.

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  • P G 28/01/12 #

    TÁNAISTE AND MINISTER for ‘ Hide n Seek ‘ Eamon Gilmore has called for an end to ‘ Leinster House’s ‘ blockade of ‘ Reform ‘.

    Gilmore, who is on a four day tour of ‘ Leinster House ‘ and ‘ Ireland ‘, said that the current restrictions on ‘ Truth & Justice ‘ in ‘ Ireland ‘ is “utterly unjust” and “counterproductive”.
    “It is dispiriting to see how little real change there has been in ‘ Leinster House ‘ since the end of the ‘ FF ‘ ‘ Destruction ‘ operation against ‘ Ireland ‘ ‘ One ‘ year ago,” said the Tánaiste.
    “What I have seen today has reinforced my belief that it is utterly unjust as well as counterproductive to subject ‘ Ireland ‘ to these restrictions, to choke off its economy, and to reduce its people to a state of complete dependency”.
    He said that he will raise the situation in ‘ Ireland ‘ with ‘ REAL Irish ‘ government ‘ Backbenchers ‘ with whom he is due to meet tomorrow.
    Gilmore is on the third day of his trip to ‘ Leinster House ‘ and ‘ Ireland ‘ today.
    He is due to meet with ‘ Opposition Leaders & Realistic Economists ‘ this afternoon to discuss the stalled ‘ Irish Recovery ‘ process.
    Tomorrow he will meet with ‘ Irish Messenger Boy Mr Kenny ‘ when he begins the official ‘ Leinster House ‘ leg of his visit.

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  • The only purpose of the embargo is to prevent the aquisition of weapons by terrorists. It cannot be ended while that risk continues.
    All other supplies are getting through and its obvious when you do a search on topics such as ‘Gaza strip restaurants’ or “shopping’, that things aren’t all that bad.

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    • Iran have no nuclear weapons USA has over 5000, Iran is the next scapecoat in the war on everything anti-capitalist. War helps boost the US economy and that is why they are spinning shit about Iran

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    • Chris 28/01/12 #

      Ya and that’s why aid ships are being stopped from entering? iv heard that they can’t even get basics like cement there!?

      So they have shops and restaurants? Man I’m sure they have shops and restaurants in the poorest country in the world, doesn’t mean the situation there isn’t that bad!!?

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    • Dan do you support sanctions in Israel for having nukes? They have invaded more nations than iran. People keep forgetting America is the only nation to have actually used nuclear weapons to my mind that makes them the terrorists

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  • Whatever Dan. USA USA USA

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  • One corrupted state helping out another. Let us pray.

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  • We are the people…..

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